Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-11-05
THE SMITHS.


They were exclusive in Opal. Opsl
was a little village, I won't say where,
but it stood at the foot of hill, and il
doubtless stands there still. A pretty
river meanders in and out amongst the
highways and by-ways, so that you
never know when you have to cross q
bridge; and what with big trees, hand
some houses, and q Gothic church, it is
as pretty place as can well be mag
ined. Perhaps that is the reason why
its inhabitants---those whose fathers
and grandfathers before them have been
Opalites-are so exclusive, and turn
the cold shoulder to all the strangers
not properly introduced-not voaIched
for by somebody who is somebody.
However, at the date of our stony,
there dwelt amongst these EXCUSE peo-
pie two high and mighty personages to
whom all bowed down. There were
the Smiths. The Smiths. Smith, we
all know, is the name by which, when
Adam got tired of naming the heads of
ancient families, he christened all the
rest in lump.
These particular Smiths were also
named John and Mary, which proves
that Romeo's inquiry, what's in a
name?" was an apt question, for it
made no difference; they were still The
Smiths.
The first Smith bought land There
was not only a grandfather, but great
grandfather's father to be talked of as
having built just there; and the pres
emit Mrs. Smiths relatives were great
people; and they were rich-no one
knew how rich.
1t was the custom in Opal to wait un-
til Mrs. Smith took notice of strangers
before taking them up. That set the
seal on their position.
When little Mrs. Miller came to Opal,
beause she thought it a pretty place.
and built house there, and brought
her two little boys and her old servant
with her, she did not know the ways of
the place. She was social, and used to
being liked for herself She had been
even sought after.
But Opal did not know her family"
thought her "too dressy for widow"
too pretty, too. It was fashionable to
be plain of face and costume in Opal.
The best families were all like that.
Close watch was kept over the Smiths.
They did not call. Therefore no one
else called. But little Mrs. Miller,
who was not apt to fancy herself likely
to be sighted, laid all the primness of
the manners of the Qualities to the fact
that she had not been pleasant enough
to them, and having arranged her tiny
home to her satisfaction, sent out cards
of invitation to tea to all those to whom
she had spoken at the church or who
were very near her home, so that
pleasant mornings" or "good evenings"
had been exchanged.
Everybody is respectable in these
small places" she thought, "and all &C
quainted, of course"
Mrs. Bright, the minister's wife, was
the first to get her cards. Unfortun-
ately, as she expressed it to Mrs.
Miller, her husband was going to marry
q couple that afternoon, and as they
we're friends, she was going to the we'd
ding.
The rest simply looked at their cards
contemptuously, and, without hesita-
lion, penned regrets" without apology.
"Does she expect to step into our So
,iety that way without our knowing
who she is ?" said Mrs Doubledee Brick,
with q sniff. II sha'n't send any an
,wer whatever.
"When the Smiths have not called"
added her mother-in-law.
And so the postman had large par
eel of small envelopes for Mrs. Miller
one morning, and she, for the first time
in her life, felt angry. She had not
made party of it, only an informal af-
fair, with one days notice, and
everything was prepared. Her new
dress; black lace, with pale-pink bow
IN her black hair, and pale-pink roses
for her belt. hung on q chair, and, I
for a while, the little woman was very
angry. indeed-mortified, too.
The first dawn of such feeling was
very painful.
Was she cut by these unimportant |
people of Opal-she, who in London |
had been q beauty, and in Dublin had |
had so many invitations that to know |
which to accept for q certain night was |
rather difficult!
However, there was no antecedants |
Of an unpleasant nature in her life
nothing to make her think "they have
heard" and after awhile she laughed |
over it.
She had never heard of The Smiths.
They lived . distance away, and at |
tended another church outside the vii
lage, where their nephew preached.
She had not, to her knowledge, met
either of them, for she did not know |
that the old gentleman who had helped |
her into her carriage one day at the
station, when her horse would not stand
still. was The Smith, aud she had sent
this good couple no cards.
She did not know that not to know |
them was to be yourself unknown in
Opal best society.
Nor did she guess that Fate had her
tea in hand.
It was o'clock in the afternoon.
One or two of the Qualities had not /
condescended to reply at all. go though